News, September 7th

Glenwood Springs–Glenwood Springs may soon have a fueling station for compressed natural gas. Last night the city council talked about incentives and programs to pay for a CNG station. Right now CNG can only be found on the western slope in Rifle and Grand Junction. The city of Glenwood Springs is being asked to kick in about 10 thousand dollars in seed money. Officials believe the demand and supply will be there.

DOWNTOWN GLENWOOD PARTNERSHIP/GRAND AVE. BRIDGE

Glenwood Springs–The long term economic health and prosperity of downtown Glenwood Springs should be seriously considered when the Grand Avenue Bridge is replaced. That’s one of the big recommendations from the Glenwood Springs Downtown Partnership. The partnership has a number of suggestions for C-DOT before, during and after the bridge project including upgrading Exit 116, the main Glenwood/I-70 off ramp.

PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION IN GW

Glenwood Springs–The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission wrapped up a two-day meeting in Glenwood Springs today. The commissioners, who are still getting to accustomed to the new process, are traveling to key cities across the state holding public meetings. In Glenwood, the commission talked about mountain lion harvest limits for the upcoming season and fishing regulations. The commission held it’s meeting at the Hotel Denver.

In other news…

GRAND JUNCTION — As many as 300 patients could be involved in the case against two Western Slope doctors accused of overprescribing painkillers. Prosecutors say the patients could be used to support drug charges and fraud charges against Dr. Sam Jahani and Dr. Eric Peper. The filing offers a first glimpse of the case against the doctors who operated clinics in Grand Junction, Delta and Montrose. The clinics were closed after raids in October 2009 Jahani and Peper are accused of overprescribing several narcotics, resulting in the deaths of four patients. They’re also accused of fraudently billing government health care programs. The doctors pleaded not guilty last month and are free on bond. No trial date has been set.

Rangely–The federal government’s draft assessment of a proposal to expand the Deserado Mine near Rangely says the plan would have no significant environmental impacts. The Bureau of Land Management made its finding in a draft environmental assessment of the proposal, which would have it lease 3,157 more acres of federal coal reserves to the mine’s operator, Blue Mountain Energy Inc. The company wants to mine an area estimated to contain about 21 million tons of coal. The BLM estimates about 56 acres would be disturbed for things such as temporary drill pads for methane venting wells.
The public can comment on the draft assessment through Oct. 5.